Coupling device for a mattress

Abstract

A coupling device for coupling a mattress to a mattress base comprises a lower coupling element, which can be attached to the mattress base, and an upper coupling element, which can be attached to the mattress, which lower coupling element and upper coupling element can be mechanically connected to one another. To facilitate the making of said connection, said upper coupling element and lower coupling element can be coupled in various positions which are offset with respect to one another. Furthermore, upper coupling element and lower coupling element can also be coupled electrically.

I claim: 
     
       1. Coupling device for coupling a mattress to a mattress base in a variety of positions in the same plane, comprising a lower coupling element attached to the mattress base and an upper coupling element attached to the mattress, each of the lower and upper coupling elements including protrusions, at least some of the protrusions on one of the coupling elements being arranged in spaced relationship to one another to define a plurality of cavities engageable with the protrusions on the other coupling element. 
     
     
       2. Device according to claim 1 wherein one of the coupling elements comprises a plurality of cavities which are located alongside one another in a first direction, each cavity having a constant cross-section in the first direction, and the other coupling element comprises a rib arranged in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and having a widened top portion and likewise having a constant cross-section in the first direction, such that the rib can be accommodated in various positions in the second direction, in a cavity and the rib can be accommodated in various cavities in the first. 
     
     
       3. Device according to claim 2, wherein further ribs are provided on one of said upper and lower coupling elements provided with a rib having a widened top, which further ribs are parallel to said rib, and a pair of said further rib defines a groove in which in each case one widened top of the other of said upper and lower coupling elements can be accommodated. 
     
     
       4. Device according to claim 3, wherein corrugations extend transversely between each pair of said further ribs and the other of said upper and lower coupling elements carries pins, each pair of said pins forming a cavity, which pins can be accommodated by their free ends between, in each case, one pair of said further ribs and one pair of corrugations, extending transversely between said further ribs, of said one of said upper and lower coupling elements. 
     
     
       5. Device according to claim 4 wherein said upper coupling element and said lower coupling element include electrical contacts and can also be coupled electrically. 
     
     
       6. Device according to claim 5 wherein at least one of the protrusions of one of said upper and lower coupling elements and at least one of the protrusions of the other of said upper and lower coupling elements carry an electrical contact, which contacts are fitted in locations such that they touch one another when the coupling elements are mechanically coupled. 
     
     
       7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the coupling element which carries the pins is the lower coupling element and the pins have a mutual spacing which corresponds to the mesh spacing of a mattress base which has wires twisted together in the form of interlocking spirals, and the contacts are insulated at least over a height equal to the thickness of the mattress base. 
     
     
       8. Device according to claim 2 wherein said upper coupling element and said lower coupling element include electrical contacts and can also be coupled electrically. 
     
     
       9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the cavities carry electrical contacts on sides of protrusions facing one another and the rib carries electrical contacts on its sides which face away from one another. 
     
     
       10. Device according to claim 1 wherein said upper coupling element and said lower coupling element include electrical contacts and can also be coupled electrically. 
     
     
       11. Device according to claim 1 wherein the coupling elements are attached by snap fastenings to the mattress base and to the mattress respectively. 
     
     
       12. Coupling device for coupling a mattress to a mattress base, comprising a lower coupling element attached to the mattress base and an upper coupling element attached to the mattress, the lower coupling element and upper coupling element being mechanically coupleable to one another, one of the coupling elements comprising at least one protrusion having a constant cross-section in its longitudinal direction and the other coupling element comprising at least two cavities located alongside one another, such that the at least one protrusion can be accommodated in various positions, offset in its longitudinal direction, in any of the cavities. 
     
     
       13. Device according to claim 12 wherein said upper coupling element and said lower coupling element include electrical contacts and can also be coupled electrically. 
     
     
       14. Device according to claim 13 wherein at least one of the protrusions of one of said upper and lower coupling elements and at least one of the protrusions of the other of said upper and lower coupling elements carry an electrical contact, which contacts are fitted in locations such that they touch one another when the coupling elements are mechanically coupled.